July 28, 2011

Making Your Curriculum Vitae Shine

Article by Landon Long

In a job run, you can be regarded as a product and you are often treated as one. In order to market yourself to prospective employers, you are going to promote yourself. Basically, your resume is your informative brochure. This includes information that could explain to the reader your value. On the other hand, the cover letter is your demonstration, the stand of your company. Since rivalry is unavoidable, you need to have a good marketing strategy or an efficient guide on how to write your Curriculum Vitae.

A Curriculum Vitae, or CV is your fundamental marketing tools in a job search to help you get an interview and potentially be able to get you a job. It should not be written the same way as in autobiographies. However, it should be able to present your skills and experiences in a better tone. It should be correct and compelling to pull in prospective employers’ interest.

What are the Differences between Curriculum Vitae and Resume?

Curriculum Vitae and resumes differ in many ways. These words are used differently in different countries. They are also built with different content and objectives. In a CV, the scholarly data and experience are collected in the document. It integrates skills and experiences that are not even connected to the position being applied to. On the other hand, the resume emphasizes information that is applicable to the position that asks to be filled. Info includes experiences, studies and abilities.

Furthermore, CV targets types of company and position that are different from that of a basic resume. Resumes are more encouraged for commercial positions, media, audio-visual and directorial positions while the CV is more appropriate for doctors, research, scientists, and academe positions.

What is the Structure of a CV?

Generally, the CV structure is composed in chronological order. It may include an objective, your personal data, academic history, work experience, languages, computer skills and so on. The objective part is typically optional but it is still highly suggested. In this section, you should include information such as type of position you wish to enter. You should also spotlight your skills and experiences that you could extend to the company.

Education Section

In the CV under the education section, you are encouraged to include your major, minor, and area of concentration or specializations. If you are applying outside your state, it is advised to list the city and state of your college location. On the other hand, do not incorporate institutions that you didn’t receive a degree from or you have GPAs under 3.0.

Experience Section

This section is essential. You should list both your paid and unpaid experiences including your internships, volunteer activities, student consulting and so on. While composing each experience, you may need to include the position title, employer or company, location and date. The experience should begin from the most recent experience down to your first experience. It is advisable to stress your powerful points in this part.

Reference Section

This is also advisable to include however may not be necessary if there is no more space available. This section closes the resume. Include the name, business title, address and contact number for each reference. It is suggested that you indicate the relationship you have with the said reference.

About the Author

Landon Long is the founder of InterviewMastermind.com. You can download his FREE “Resume Rebel” Video Course to learn how to write a resume or Curriculum Vitae and stand out in a slow economy.